Drum controller box



Oct. 6, 1931.- H. E. CAMPBELL 1,826,050

DRUM CONTROLLER BOX Filed Jan. 21. 1929 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, `1931 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. CAMPBELL, AOF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN ASSIGN- MENTS, TO OUTER-HAMMER, INC., A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE DRUM CONTROLLER BOX- .Application filed January 21, 1929. Serial No. 333,899.

This invention relatesto improvements in drum controller box, more particularly 'adapted for use with electric controllers and starters.

Heretofore it has been the common practice to form drum controller boxes in one piece of cast iron and in other cases the top has been similarly 'formed-with the exception that the top was made vseparate `from the other part and bolted thereto. Both of these forms were found yto be objectionable due to "the fact vthat fthe castings 4were very heavy and would break easily if dropped. Furthermore, as controller boxes of various heights are used to accommodate controllers or starters having varying numbers of contacts, it was necessary Vfor the manufacturer to have a large stock of the boxes of different sizes on hand, and if not carried, -considerable delay was experienced in waiting for the foundry to cast the desired sizes.

Itis one of the objects of the present invention toovercome the beforementioned objectionablefeatures and provide a drum controller boxformed of several pieces of metal connectible vtogether' in a manner to form a light weight rigid structure.

A further object of the invention is toV provide a drum controller box in which cast metaltop andbottom pieces are used 1n connec'tion 'with sheet metal body portions to permit the easy assembling of boxes of various heights.

A further object of the invention is to provide a-drum controller box having a removable front cover which is easily secured in its Yclosed position.

A further o'bject'of the invention is to provide a drum controller switch which is of simple construction, is strong and durable vand is' well :adapted for the purpose described.`

With the .above land 4other objects in View, .theinvention consists of the improved drum controller box and its parts and combinations asset forth in the claims, and 'all equivalents thereof. y

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a front View of the improved drum controller box with the front cover removed and a top portion of the box being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the box, a lower portion of the fronti cover being broken away to show interior construction;

Fig, 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail view of the lower side port-ion of the box; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontalsectionaldetail View of a similar portion of the box.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the base or lower member, 6 the top or upper member, 7 the body member and 8 the front cover of the improved drum controller box. The base member 5 is of approximately rectangular shape and is formed with bottom and rear side attaching eyed and recessed ears 9 and 9 for connecting the box to a horizontal or vertical support. The bottoni member is also formed with an upwardly extending Vflange or rib 10 which bounds vthe outer edge portions of the bottom member with the `exception that at the forward corners the flange is of rounded formation as indicated by the numeral 11. At the rear portion and parts of the opposite `sides of the bottom member the flange 10 is formed with an upwardly projecting and inwardly offset extension flange or rib 12 which is-overla-pped bythe lower inner side edge portion ofthe U-shaped body portion 7. The inner lower opposite side yand rear portion of the body and the upper edge portions of the extension flange 12 are welded .together as indicated by the member 13 to form an integral rigid connection between the two parts as indicated in Fig. 4:.

The bottom member '5 is formed with an inner shaft hub portion 14, a contact sup- .port lug 15, and an insulator support lug 16.

Threaded bosses 17 are also provided on the rbase member 5 to which ground terminals 18 may be connected if desired. Said bottom member is also formed with an opening 19 for the entrance of electric circuit wires for connection with portions of the switch elements indicated by dotted lines.

The upper or top member 6 is of somewhat the same general shape as the base member and is provided with a downwardly eX- tending flange or rib lO and the extension flange or rib l2', both being respectively of the same general shape as the flange l() and the extension 12 before described. The upper inner edge portion of the body member 7 overlaps the outer side of the extension flange l2 and is rigidly secured to the opposite sides and rear lower edge portions of the extension flange by lines of welding 13 to form an integral connection therebetween.

The upper member 6 is formed with recessed ears 9 of the same general shape as the ears`9 with the exception that the recesses open downwardly. Said upper member is also provided with upwardly extending bosses to accommodate the controller or other shaft 2l and the operating handle 22.

In using the box for a controller' the contact fingers are mounted on a support 23 and the rotary contacts on the shaft 21 while the insulating guard plates may be mounted on the support'24. The controller' parts mention-ed are shown by dotted lines but are not indicated by reference numerals as they do not form any part of the invention.

rl`he upper and lower edges of the body member 7 abut against the shoulders 25 and 25 of the top and bottom members and as said shoulders are each of substantially the same `thickness as the metal of the body member the outer portions of the body member and the top and bottom members will present a flush surface to receive the sides of the overlapping cover 8 as shown. in Fig. 3.

rl`he upper member 6, adjacent to and around the outer portion ofthe flange 10, is formed withV a groove or recess 26 to receive the upper' edge of the front cover 8. In closing the cover the upper front edge portionV of the cover is inserted into the groove 26 at an angle and the lower portion of the cover is then swung into position to engage the flange l0 and the opposite side portions of the body member 7. Said opposite side portions of the body member have slotted brackets 27 welded thereto and through which extend bolts 28. The bolts have squared shank portions 28 to prevent the bolts turning in the slotted portions of the brackets and at their outer' ends are provided'with nuts 29. The cover portion 8 also has slotted brackets 30 riveted thereto which are in horizontal alinement with the other brackets and are adapted to receive the bolts 28 and the nuts 2S) in clamping the front cover in closed position as shown in F ig. 2.

It will thus be seen that the same top and bottom portions may be used in forming controller boxes of various heights so that it is only necessary for the manufacturer to carry the top and bottom castings 1n stock and the ,oso

sheet metal body portions and covers may be cut to form boxes of the desired sizes.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved drum controller boxes are relatively of light Weight, are strong and durable and arewell adapted for the purpose described. v

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

l. An enclosing case for electric drum controllers, comprising a cast metal top member havin@ an opening for a 'drum controller shaft, a cast metal bottom member having a bearing recess for one end of the controller shaft, flanges integral with the adjacent faces of the top and bottom members respectively, a sheet metal body member of U-shape in cross section, said body member being interposed between said top and bottom members and rigidly secured to the flanges on the latter whereby an open-front box-like structure is provided, said top member having a peripheral groove inthe lower face thereof, a sheet metal front cover member of U-shape in cross section, the upper edge of said cover` member being insertable within said groove, the lower portion of said cover member being adapted to engage the flange on said bottom member, and means for removably securing said cover member in position.

2. An enclosing case for electric drum controllers, comprising a cast metal top member having an opening for a drum controller shaft, a cast metal bottom member having a bearing recess for onev end of the controller shaft, flanges integral with the adjacent faces of the top and bottom members respectively, a sheet metal body member of U-shape in cross section, said body member being interposed between said top and bottom members and rigidly secured to the flanges on the latter whereby an open-front box-like structure is provided, said top member having a eripheral groove in the lower face thereo a sheet metal front cover member of U-shape in cross section, the upper edge of said cover member being insertable withinsaid groove, the lower portion of said cover member being adapted to engage the flange on said bottom member, and means for removably securing said cover member in position, said cover member being of greater length than said body member and being arranged to overlap the longitudinal edges of the latter.

3. A controller box, comprising a cast metal tog member having an openingfor a controller shaft and a. depending flange and an extension flange, a cast metal bottom member having an upstanding flange and an cx` tension flange and an opening for receiving controller wires, a U-shaped in cross section relatively thick sheet metal body member in terposed between and bearing against the extension flanges, lines of welding integrally connecting the body member and the extension flanges together toV formi a box-like closure for containing an electric controlling device and having an open side to permit access thereto, and a removable sheet metal cover closing the open side portion.

4l. A controller box, comprising a cast metal top member having an opening for a controller shaft and a depending flange and an extension flange forming a shoulder between the two flanges, a cast metal bottom member having an opening for receiving controller wires and an upstanding flange and an extension flange forming a shoulder between the two flanges, a U-shaped in cross section relatively thick sheet metal body member interposed between and bearing against the extension flanges and abutting the shoulders, lines of welding integrally connecting the inner side of the body member to the edge portions of the extension flanges to form a box-like structure for containing an electric controlling device and having an open side to permit access thereto, a removable sheet metal cover closing the open side and engaging the first mentioned flanges and the body member, and means for securing the cover in closed position.

5. A controller box, comprising a cast metal top member having an opening for a controller shaft and a depending flange and an extension flange forming a shoulder between the two flanges, a cast metal bottom member having an opening for receiving controller wires and an upstanding flange and an extension flange forming a shoulder between the two flanges, said top and bottom' members being approximately of rectangular form, a U-shaped in cross section relatively thick sheet metal body member interposed between and bearing against t-he extension flanges and abutting the shoulders, lines of welding integrally connecting the inner side portions to the edge portions of the extension flanges to form a box-like structure for containing an electric controlling device and having an open front to permit access thereto, a sheet metal cover closing the open front and bearing against the depending and upstanding flanges and the opposite sides of the body member, slotted brackets mounted on the opposite side portions of the body member and the cover, and means for holding the cover in closed position.

6. A controller box, comprising a cast metal top member having an opening for a controller shaft and a depending flange and an extension flange forming a shoulder between the two flanges, said top member also having a groove extending around the depending flange, a cast metal bottom member having an opening for receiving controller wires and an upstanding flange and an extension flange forming` a shoulder between the two flanges, said top and bottom members being approximately of rectangular form, a U-shaped in cross section relatively thick lclosing the open l.front `and bearing against f the depending and upstanding flanges and the opposite sides of the body member, and means for holding the cover in closed position;

7. An enclosing for electric drum controllers, comprising a cast .metal top memh ber having :an opening for a drum controller shaft, a cast metal bottom member having 'a bearing recess .for one end of the `controller shaft, flanges integral with the adjacent Yfaces 'of the top and bottoni members respectively, fa sheet metal body member 'of U-shape in 'cross section, said body member being interposed between said top and bottom members and rigidly secured 'tothe flanges on the latter whereby an open-front vbox-like structure is provided, -said top .member having a peripheral groove in fthe lower face thereof, Ia sheet metal front cover member lof U-shape in Icross section, `the upper edge of :said cover member being insertable within said groove, the lower portion v:of said cover member being adapted to engage the flange on said boitfto-m'nienifber., means for removably securing ksaid cover member in position, and means comprising a strut extending between and secured to the front portions of said top and bottom members.

8. An enclosing case for electric drum controllers, comprising a castmetal top member having an opening for a drum controller shaft, a cast metal bottom member having a bearing recess for one end of the controller shaft, flanges integral with the adjacent faces of the top and bottom members respectively, a sheet metal body member of U-shape in cross section, said body member being interposed between said top and bottom members and rigidly secured to the flanges on the latter whereby an openfront box-like structure is provided, said top member having a peripheral groove in the lower face thereof, a sheet metal front cover member of U-shape in cross section, the upper edge of said cover member being insertable within said groove, the lower portion of said cover member being adapted to engage the flange on said bottom member, means for removably securing said cover member in position, and means comprising a strut extending between and secured to the front portions of said top and bottom members, said strut forming part of the drum controller and being arranged for concealment by said cover member.

9. A drum controller boX comprising cast iron end members and sheet metal side walls cut to lengths to space said cast iron members as desired, said cast iron members having bearings for the controller drum, parts for attachment thereto of the remaining controller elements and flanges for abu-tment by said sheet metal Walls, and certain of said sheet metal walls being welded to said cast iron members to form therewith a substantially rigid skeleton structure open on three sides and -with which the remaining sheet metal walls are removably associated.

10. A drum controller boX comprising ycast iron top and bottom members having flanges arranged in stepped relation to each other Aupon each of the adjacent faces thereof, a sheet metal member of U-shape in cross section cut to the desired length and adapted to abut the inwardly offset flanges of the top and bottom members, said sheet metal member being rigidly united with said top and bottom members by lines of welding at said last mentioned flanges, said top and bottom members having bearings for the controller shaft and having rigid elements extending therebetween and attached thereto for support of certain of the controller parts, a second sheet metal member of substantially U-shape in cross section and adapted to abut the other flanges on said top and bottom members, and means for removably securing said second sheet metal member in overlapping relation to said first mentioned sheet metal member. f

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

f HARRY E. CAMPBELL. 

